Taiwan's opposition launched a final weekend of protests to recall President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday, just days before a legislative vote on whether to hold a referendum to sack Chen over allegations his family is corrupt.

James Soong, chairman of Taiwan's minority People First Party, holds a sit-in protest against President Chen Shui-bian near the legislature in Taipei June 24, 2006.  The sign reads, "Life and death pale in comparison over the price of truth, just as the views of differing political parties will not compromise on right and wrong".[Reuters]

Hundreds of people began gathering in the southern city of Kaohsiung, where the Nationalist Party said about 6,000 supporters would rally. Some threw water balloons at a large cardboard figure of the president as they gathered in front of a stage with a sign saying "Clean politics to save Taiwan."

The opposition has held weekly protests to mobilize public support for Tuesday's vote on the referendum. Many doubt the opposition, which has a slim majority, will be able to muster the two-thirds majority needed to launch a recall referendum.

The opposition has been holding weekend protests during the last month.

Police put up barbed wire around the protest site outside the National Science and Technology in Kaohsiung, the island's second-largest city. They mobilized 2,000 officers to prevent clashes. Local Chen supporters drove near the site in trucks equipped with loudspeakers.

Meanwhile in Taipei, James Soong, the leader of the minor People First Party or PFP, said he would not attend the Kaohsiung rally, but would stay with about 20 supporters who spent Friday night outside the legislature in Taipei. Nationalist leader Ma Ying-jeou visited the sit-in before leaving for Kaohsiung.

PFP supporters in about 80 cars decked with flags and banners left on Saturday from a street near the legislature to drive around central Taipei.

The opposition says Chen should resign because he can no longer function as president amid corruption allegations against his family.

About two dozen Chen supporters staged a counter-demonstration outside the Nationalist Party offices.

Chen himself visited two temples in Taipei to pray for peace, officials said.

His son-in-law, Chao Chien-min, was arrested on May 24 over suspicions of insider trading.

Prosecutors are also investigating whether Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen, was involved in illegal financial dealings linked to the takeover of a department store. The Presidential Office has denied the allegations.

Chen last Tuesday offered a point-by-point rebuttal of the opposition's recall case during a two-hour television address. His Democratic Progressive Party has been boycotting legislative hearings on the topic.

Chen's party has said the bid to oust him is unjustified because Chen is not personally implicated in any wrongdoing.